Friday Australian poem # 14: "The Australaise" by C J Dennis

Hosted by John Clarke, this entertaining story about the way we sound is told through an array of illuminating interviews with linguists, historians, social and political commentators, comedians, actors, and plenty of opinionated people with genuinely hilarious anecdotes. Those featured include Rachel Griffiths, Bruce Beresford, Bert Newton, Max Gillies, Denise Scott, Mary-Anne Fahey, Santo Cilauro, Simon Palomares and Akmal Saleh.

Is our accent really the legendary broad “Strine” of Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin? Why is it so hard for others to do? Are there regional variations? Is it a bastardised version of the Queen’s English? Is it under threat from global forces? And if it is, is it worth saving?

By examining the Australian accent and discovering its story, The Sounds of Aus reveals much about the Australian psyche and our national identity. Indeed, over the last two centuries, many of the conflicts about our identity have been played out through the accent, with our vision of, and our relationship with, the world reflected in the way we speak.
For much of the 20th century, many Australians looked to Britain as the bastion of authority and culture, and aspired to emulate the British “cultivated” sound. Meanwhile, others proudly embraced sounding local, which facilitated the rise of the “broad” accent. These variations led to very real conflict. Entertainer Barry Crocker tells how Banjo Paterson, Australia’s greatest poet, was recruited at his peak to host a radio program in the early days of the BBC-modelled ABC. After a short time however, Paterson was fired – because of his accent!

By the 60s and 70s, a new social, political and cultural era created a kind of “deregulation of the accent” and other variations began to be heard in the mainstream, including indigenous voices, and the “wogspeak” of new migrants and their descendants.

I found that show very good, even if presented by a Kiwi!

And now C J Dennis’s poem “The Australaise” — in its World War I livery.

Footnote to 1915 reissue – Where a dash (—) replaces a missing word, the adjective “blessed” may be interpolated. In cases demanding great emphasis, the use of the word “blooming” is permissible. However, any other word may be used that suggests itself as suitable.

Now you may wonder about the relevance of the following, but when you watch it I think you may know why. They don’t do too badly — for Poms…”Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in a sketch from the pilot of their show A Bit of Fry & Laurie. A parody of Australian soaps.”

Note by R.H. Croll – “Dennis amended his Australaise, as published in Sydney Bulletin, to make it topical for the First World War and J.G. Roberts and I paid for its publication in this form for distribution to the troops in camp.” (undated) From McLaren Collection (Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne) item 622/30

W T Goodge’s original poem was called “The Great Australian Adjective” (1898).

The sunburnt ---- stockman stood
And, in a dismal ---- mood,
Apostrophized his ---- cuddy;
"The ---- nag's no ---- good,
He couldn't earn his ---- food -
A regular ---- brumby,
----!"
He jumped across the ---- horse
And cantered off, of ---- course!
The roads were bad and ---- muddy;
Said he, "Well, spare me ---- days
The ---- Government's ---- ways
Are screamin' ---- funny,
----!"
He rode up hill, down ---- dale,
The wind it blew a ---- gale,
The creek was high and ---- floody.
Said he, "The ---- horse must swim,
The same for ---- me and him,
Is something ---- sickenin',
----!"
He plunged into the ---- creek,
The ---- horse was ---- weak,
The stockman's face a ---- study!
And though the ---- horse was drowned
The ---- rider reached the ground
Ejaculating, "----!"
"----!"

Finally, another exhibit of modern Australian speech — f-words included so be warned! — is mentioned in the summary of The Sounds of Aus:

A funny and very observant man. I liked a comment on John Clarke’s documentary, a Melbourne person saying they didn’t talk about multiculturalism in Melbourne because they are living in it!

Update

Late Night Live on ABC Radio National had a follow-up to The Sounds of Oz. You can download an MP3 podcast.

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